Posted on 02/03/2011 9:54:52 PM PST by smokingfrog
Chinese Year of the Rabbit officially comes today, or it already came Wednesday due to a 12-hour time difference between the U.S. and China.
Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival according to the literal translation of its Chinese name, is the most significant holiday for more than one quarter of the world's population. It begins on the first day of the first month of the lunar - lunisolar more accurately - calendar, based on exact astronomical observations of the longitude of the sun and the phases of the moon by ancient Chinese astrologists.
Though the exact date of Chinese New Year's Day varies every year according to the Gregorian calendar, it usually falls sometime between the latter half of January and the first half of February. This year, it is on February 3.
The first use of the Chinese calendar can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty around 2,600 B.C.E.. Although the Gregorian calendar is commonly used today by the Chinese, they refer most of their traditional holidays (i.e. Moon Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, etc.) to the lunar calendar.
The Chinese Zodiac is a system that relates each year to an animal, which has some similarities with the Western zodiac, except that its 12-part cycle is divided into years rather than months.
In the 12-year Chinese Zodiac (Sheng Xiao) cycle, 2011 marks the "Year of the Rabbit," and many are taking a literal approach to the festivities. Kids are wearing bunny costumes, and shopping centers are also trying to put a rabbit sign on every item and sell them at a good price.
(Excerpt) Read more at accuweather.com ...
Chinese fortune cookie says:
Rabbit will dig holes and cause Ox to fall.
Guess who was supposedly born in the year of the Ox?
Elmer Fudd will not like that.
USA or 0bama the Evil One?
When I think of rabbits the first thing that crosses my mind is multiplication. Not energizer batteries, easter, bugs bunny or Elmer Fudd..
Does this portend that our problems will multiply this year? Sure looks like it to me.
When I think of rabbits the first thing that crosses my mind is multiplication. Not energizer batteries, easter, bugs bunny or Elmer Fudd..
Does this portend that our problems will multiply this year? Sure looks like it to me.
Thats interesting, perhaps we are Palins Rabbits?
We will multiply like Australia?
Jimmy Carter should be vewy, vewy afwaid.
You cut off my arm!
You cut off my OTHER arm!
Come here!! .. I’ll bite you!!
Oh, OK, sure. But why 12? I can't help believing that these have a common origin. Wikipedia associates the Chinese signs with a tripartite division of the seasons, much as Ptolemy associated the signs with the solar position on the ecliptic. The origin of the constellational zodiac is prehistoric, and I would suppose it goes back to the most primitive era of mankind.
"You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!"
Happy New Year!
Gung Hei Fat Choi!
Wish I had some of those awesome Vietnamese coconut rice cakes they make for Tet.
YEAR OF THE RABBIT
1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog.
http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/zodiac/Rabbit.html
Yea, that pretty much sums me up. Ha ha.
People born in the Year of the Snake are deep. They say little and possess great wisdom.
And that's all I'm going to say about that.
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